Eva Marie Saint - one of the last living legends of Hollywood's Golden Age - turns 100

Story by Danni Scott

July 6, 2024

Eva Marie Saint celebrates her 100th birthday (Picture: Michael Tran/FilmMagic)

Silver screen icon Eva Marie Saint celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by four generations of her family.

The On the Waterfront legend is one of the last surviving stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood, having made her acting debut in 1944.

Eva won an Academy Award for the Marlon Brando film in 1955 before going on to win an Emmy in 1990 for People Like Us, as well as securing numerous more nominations.

Another notable role saw her starring alongside Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (1959).

Just before her milestone day on July 4, Eva revealed her family would join her from across America in Los Angeles for the huge event.

‘I certainly don’t feel 100 years old,’ the actress told People. ‘I continue to take walks out in the fresh air, like watching baseball — especially the Los Angeles Dodgers, and enjoy time with my family and friends.’

Eva became one of the most well-known actresses of her era
(Picture: John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

She rose to fame in the Golden Age of Hollywood (Picture: Archive Photos/Getty Images)

She expressed that she has a ‘good life’, having retired from acting in 2021 at the age of 97.

Her family includes son Darrell Hayden, 69, and daughter Laurette Hayden, 65, both of whom she had by her late husband Jeffrey Hayden.

Hayden worked as a producer and director and the pair tied the knot on October 28, 1951, remaining together until his death on Christmas Eve, 2016, aged 90.

She also reportedly has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, all joining her for her celebrations.

Her pivotal position as an icon of the Golden Age of Hollywood has been celebrated with two stars on Hollywood Boulevard, one for film and one for TV.

Keeping busy away from the spotlight, Eva once recalled to NPR: ‘Now Jeff and I did an interview, and this very prim and proper lady said, “Miss Saint, how do you stay married?”

‘This was, I think we were married 40 years then. So I become serious and I say, well, I think you have interests in things that you do together.

‘You certainly have to decide whether you’re going to have family or not. So I go on and on. She turns to Jeff. She said, “well, Mr. Hayden, what do you think the secret is?” And he said, “Sex”.'

First published at Los Angeles Metro (M Metro), July 6, 2024

Pianist who joined Coldplay on stage at Glastonbury hails ‘a dream come true’

Story by Casey Cooper-Fiske
July 5, 2025

Victoria Canal won the Rising Star award at the Ivor Novello awards. Photo: Getty Images

The pianist who joined Coldplay on stage during their headline set at Glastonbury has said she still has not recovered from “the craziest weekend of my whole life”.

Singer-songwriter Victoria Canal was invited by frontman Chris Martin to join the British band for a rendition of their hit Paradise, during the band’s performance at Worthy Farm on Saturday night.

She told BBC Breakfast: “It’s just about now sinking in, days later. But I’ve been watching it back over and over again. It’s like a dream come true.”

The 25-year-old has released a number of singles and EPs, but is yet to release a full-length album of her own, having been signed to Parlophone Records in 2022 after she was introduced to the label by Martin.

She was born in Munich without her right forearm due to amniotic band syndrome, but began to take classical piano lessons at the age of six, and quickly reached a high level of ability.

Canal said Martin, 47, first saw her music after she mocked up a Rolling Stone cover about her performing with the band as an April Fool, and they had kept in touch ever since.

She said: “He’s a great guy and always looking out for me. So when this opportunity came up, he literally just FaceTimed me out of the blue. It was 1am where I was and he was in a different timezone and I was a little bit tipsy.

“He was like: ‘Do you know the song Paradise by Coldplay?’ And I was like: ‘Yeah,’ and then he said: ‘Would you like to play the piano part at Glastonbury?’ I said: ‘Sure.’

“The next day I had to call my friend and be like: ‘Was that a dream or did that actually happen?’

“Because I’ve had that dream before, and then you wake up and you’re so disappointed it wasn’t real.

“It was like the craziest weekend of my whole life.”

Victoria Canal playing the piano at the Grammy Awards. Photo: Getty Images

Canal went on to reveal she had to “do some homework” in order to perfect the song, but said one of her party tricks at a bar she was working at had been to be able to play any Coldplay song.

She also revealed Michael J Fox, who played guitar with the band on the song Fix You during the performance, was staying in the same hotel.

The performer said the pair met before the festival and went out to dinner along with her former college tutor, who works for the Back To The Future star.

He's such a hero, he has had such an incredible impact on artists around the world that started playing music because of him in Back To The Future, even Coldplay.

Victoria Canal on meeting Michael J Fox

Canal said: “We were both really nervous leading up to the performance.

“He’s such a hero, he has had such an incredible impact on artists around the world that started playing music because of him in Back To The Future, even Coldplay.

“I was talking to him about what it’s like to be someone different, and to have a body that’s different in public, and how everyone will always have something to say about that and want to focus on that.”

The pianist went on to say she cried over a headline which read “one armed piano player onstage with Coldplay”, and added she felt “no matter what I do, no matter how hard I work at music, I seem to be defined by this one thing”.

Canal said Fox told her he had been dealing with similar feelings for 40 years and said the “best thing” she could do was “do your thing and let them say what they’re going to say”.

She added: “It was so inspiring and impactful to meet him, and it really changed my life, actually.”

Canal said her emotions were still “pretty raw”, adding: “I literally have been dreaming about this my whole life”, and said she had wanted to perform with the band “since I was a little girl”.

Canal will tour the UK in October.

First published at The Evening Standard, July 5, 2024

Legendary actresses Dame Judi Dench, 89, and Dame Sian Phillips, 91, to take on new roles - as the first female members of The Garrick Club

Story by Meg Byrom and Alesia Fiddler
July 2, 2024

They are two distinguished actresses, but now Dame Judi Dench and Dame Sian Phillips will take on new roles – as the first ever female members of The Garrick Club.

The pair will be the first women to join the private members' club in its 193-year-old history, after 60 per cent of members voted in May to admit women for the first time.

The club, which was founded in 1831, faced mounting pressure from members to reform, with women previously only being allowed to enter if they were invited and accompanied by a man.

Notable members include Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, the Head of the Civil Service Simon Case and King Charles.

Dame Judi Dench, 89, pictured at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May earlier this year © Daily Mail

Dame Sian Phillips, 91, pictured at The Novello Theatre for the press night of Betty Blue Eyes © Daily Mail

Dame Judi, 89, and Dame Sian, 91, were granted fast-tracked memberships last night, joining other prominent actors such as Brian Cox and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Their memberships came after a legal analysis of the club's rulebook by David Pannick KC and decided there was no reason to exclude women from joining, The Guardian reported. 

Other nominees included former home secretary Amber Rudd, classics editor Mary Beard, Labour Ayesha Hazarika and Channel 4's Cathy Newman.

The club can admit up to four new members a year if the committee chooses, however the usual process can take between two to five years meaning women may have only been admitted by 2026 if the pair had not been fast-tracked. 

As per regulation 15 in the rulebook, 'general committee may in its discretion elect four members in each year in consideration of their public eminence or distinction'.

A discussion about voting to allow women to join the club took two hours in May, according to The Times. 

The Garrick Club, which was founded in 1831, faced mounting pressure from members to reform, with women previously only being allowed to enter if they were invited and accompanied by a man © Daily Mail

Those said to have been in favour of women joining included Stephen Fry, former Supreme Court justice Lord Sumption and Nigel Havers.

One member at the meeting who supported the decision in support of women to join said: 'A remarkable club will become more remarkable and it will continue to thrive rather than die.'

Both are talented in their art and Dame Judi, an Oscar-winning actress has starred both on screen and on stage - playing M in the James Bond films and several Shakespeare plays in her early career.

BAFTA-winning Dame Sian has played Enid Meadows in Doctor Who, amongst appearing on other shows, and was made a dame for her services to drama in 2016.

First published at The Daily Mail, July 2, 2024

Elton John has confirmed he won’t be touring ever again

by Lauren Mills

It’s been 55 years since Elton John released his debut album Empty Sky (1969) and over 50 years since he released his most popular album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973).

The musical icon, 77, has now confirmed he is done touring, and heartbreakingly, fans will not get the chance to see him on the road again.

It’s been 55 years since Elton John released his debut album Empty Sky (1969) and over 50 years since he released his most popular album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973).

The musical icon, 77, has now confirmed he is done touring, and heartbreakingly, fans will not get the chance to see him on the road again.

“We’ve got our sons, you know, they’re getting into their teenage years now.

“We don’t want to miss anything. We want to be present for that. It’s sort of a key decade, I think, in a child’s life.”

John and Furnish met in 1993. Credit: Getty Images

John and his husband David Furnish became the first “registered” gay couple in the UK after they registered their civil partnership at Windsor Guildhall government services and municipal offices in London. 

They then started to grow their family and welcomed their first child, Zachary, 13, via surrogate, and later, Elijah, 11, via the same surrogate.

Furnish was present in the interview and added that “he’s been doing it for 60 years… So it’s nice to have that time to spend at home with family.”

At his last show on July 8, 2023, John said his farewells to the crowd in a sweet goodbye speech.

John’s farewell show. Credit: Getty Images

“My very first concert was in Sweden on the 7th of July in 1971, so more or less 52 years ago since the day I first played in Stockholm,” he began.

“I’ve had the most wonderful career, beyond belief. 52 years of pure joy playing music. How lucky am I to play music?

“But you know, I wouldn’t be sitting here and talking to you if it wasn’t for you. You bought the singles, the CDs, the albums, the cassettes, but more importantly, you bought the tickets to the shows. You know how much I love to play live. It’s been my lifeblood to play for you guys. You’ve been absolutely magnificent.

John has won five Grammys and has been nominated 35 times over the course of his career. Credit: Getty Images

“I will never forget you guys, I’ve played so many concerts, how could I forget? You’re in my head, my heart, and my soul and I thank you so much.

“I will never be touring again, but I may do something in the future— a one-off thing—but that’s miles away.

“I want to appreciate my family, my sons, my husband, everything. I’ve earned it. And I don’t regret it tonight. I want to thank the band, the crew, everybody. I will miss you guys so much, but I’ll see you much sooner than you think. I love you guys!”

First published at New Idea, July 2, 2024

Journalist
Lauren Mills
Digital Content Producer

Lauren Mills currently works as a Digital Content Producer for Are Media. She writes primarily for New Idea though she also occasionally produces stories for other publications under the company name such as Now To Love and Who. Lauren began her studies at RMIT University in 2021, studying for a Bachelor of Communications, majoring in Journalism. As part of her time at RMIT, she completed a semester abroad where she continued her degree at North Carolina State University in the United States. Lauren later moved to South Australia and transferred her course to the University of South Australia where her degree transformed into a Bachelor of Journalism and Professional Writing - she then began her career in media in September 2023. Lauren produces articles covering all things fashion, health, beauty, and entertainment but particularly enjoys writing about travel, the latest TV shows, upcoming movies, and shopping content, however, her passion lies in all things music.

Multitalented and prolific Canberra theatre legend will be missed

by Ron Cerabona
July 1 2024

One of Canberra's leading theatrical figures, Stephen Pike, died on Saturday, June 29, at the age of 69 following complications from heart surgery.

Pike had a long career in Canberra as an actor, writer, director and producer. He also nurtured and encouraged the city's emerging talents.

His first role was in the chorus for Tempo's 1978 production of Calamity Jane and he appeared in many other musicals including Godspell, Hair, Chicago, Chess and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Pike also played Jean Valjean in two Canberra Philharmonic Society productions of Les Miserables, one of which won him a Combined Area Theatre Award.

He was also a prolific director for theatre companies around Canberra and in Queanbeyan: his musicals included Blood Brothers and Chicago and his plays including the premieres of Canberra playwright Duncan Ley's The Burning, In Cold Light, and When in Rome.

Stephen Pike. Picture by Karleen Minne

Pike won a Canberra Critics Circle Award in 2012 for, as the citation read in part, "his confident and imaginative direction of the Queanbeyan City Council's production of Hair".

In 1982 Pike purchased his own restaurant, The Bellows, where The Sweet Shock Company performed more than 400 performances combining cabaret and comedy. In 1990 he opened Tarzan's Theatre Restaurant where he produced, directed and/or performed in many shows, two of which also won him CAT Awards.

Rehearsing Chess at the Q in Queanbeyan, from left, Lexi Sekuless, Stephen Pike, Adrian Flor and Derek Walker. Picture by Gary Schafer

Pike directed the 1997 and 1998 finale concerts for the Canberra Festival and was artistic director for the 2000 National Christmas Tree and Carols in front of Parliament House as well as directing and being a judge for the Combined Area Theatre Awards. 

He was business manager for Canberra Repertory Society for several years and was the first program director for the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, programming local and touring productions there for more than a decade.

Pike's successor at the Q, Jordan Best, said, "He was so important to me - I wouldn't have the career I had without Stephen. He said to me once that he loved opening doors for me because I would push right through them and grab the chance with both hands."

When Best formed her own theatre companies, Pike programmed her productions including Love Song and suggested she apply to take one production, Playhouse Creatures, to the 16th Mondial du Théâtre in Monaco. She did and was successful.

Back home, Pike told touring company HIT Productions about Playhouse Creatures and the show went to venues in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

Stephen Pike, long time Canberra actor, director, and arts administrator, with photographs of his early
acting days. Picture by Katherine Griffiths

Jarrad West, co-founder of Everyman Theatre, said, "Stephen Pike was our first vocal champion and supporter.

"We got our start, really, when he put us in the very first Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre season back in 2009 with Canberran Duncan Ley's In Cold Light. All of us involved in Everyman will be forever grateful for his support and friendship - he really was one of a kind and gave as much as he could to the arts community here, championing local performers and companies whenever and wherever he could."

First published at The Canberra Times, July 1 2024